Evangelion 1.0 - You are (not) alone

Did on purpose not dive into background info such as storyline, the why and how. 

Turned out to be, indeed, a big recut of the series (which I did love fervently). But fairly high speed, taking most of the slow character arcs out of the story. I wonder what I would've thought about it if I'd never seen the series. It felt rushed, and sometimes simply badly cut: if you know the series fairly well, it's obvious more than one dialogue is the result of some fairly creative cutting and mixing.

Shinji's problems with his dad, Ritsuko Akagi's mother complex with the Magi's... it's all merely hinted at. Like the Third Child is mentioned, but never seen.

They manage to crush the first 20 or 22 episodes or so in one film... and then tell you to wait for "Evangelion 2.0 - you will (not) advance".  Strangely enough, right in the middle the title flashes over the screen, just like in the series.

What's new: Gendo Ikari saying it's time to "nudge" Shinji towards Rei, though what they want with that, is not sure yet (the scene in which he brings her her new pass and manages to crash them both to the floor, her naked under him, is there). The Last Angel is shown, "looking forward to meet you, Shinji", and you see him speaking to Seele's members.

It all seems they got rid of the metaphysical musings and turn it into a four-piece action series with film-length episodes. According to IMDB, it came out in 2007 and 2.0 is due this year, so we'll see.

I'm not overly excited yet, but it's wonderful to see the familiar visuals in the cinema. 

... to be continued, I guess.

J.K. Rowling - "Harry Potter and the chamber of secrets"

Amusing. Kept notes on each chapter: very short description, how is suspense build up, what suggestions or hints are thrown forward.

Little "jokes" in a paragraph almost always happen in its last sentence. Or rather, after a joke, start new paragraph.

Avoid boring continuing "said bla.... said bla..." by adding a (physical) response or action of that person. ".. said Snape, pursing his lips together".

I don't have the notes on the chapters available, will post them later.

New hobby: old rental lists

In my very first book from the library - it doesn't take something extraordinary to make me happy - I found a list from the previous renter:

1. "Sailing: from novice to..." [title translated by H]
2. "Sailpower; trimming guido for..." [title translated by H]
3. "Go sailing" [title translated by H]
4. Ultrasimple boatbuilding
5. Moby-Dick, or, The whale
6. How to design a boat
7. Harry Potter and the chamb

Someone's inner thoughts in the context of books! I love it. I just found a new hobby.

Lost iPhone app, or; the art of perseverance

Usually, film-to-application results in silly skins and the such, depicting "favourite" stills and/or audio fragments. Not particularly my thing, since it'll be overkill pretty soon (please everybody, stop those 24 ringtones. you are not Jack Bauer. Look at yourself; overweight, boring, regular. get a matching ringtone) and anyway it doesn't really convey the emotions of the film, more a bleak copy of it.

But this one caught my attention, and no, I don't have an iPhone. Entering the same 6 numbers every 108 minutes. Random messages will be sent to random users. The review says it all "How long can one last, being forced to return to their virtual terminal every hour and 48 minutes? And with no clear reward?"

Particularly, it'll make the difficult task Desmond faced much more tactile. You'll get crazy, but you can stop. It's just a game. But this simple exercise will undoubtly impress you with his personae and mental stability after doing it for weeks on end. This little app will actually make you experience a horrible period of one of the characters of your favourite show. And for realising that goal, I applaud it.

combining coffee...

Coffee, bananas and peppermint strangely enough make a wonderful combination. They probably are on facing outer edges of the palate.

Writing this in soft agony because there will be time to visit the Coffee Saloon this afternoon, resulting in self-inflicted abstinence from the black crap at the office.

It's for the better H, it's for the better.

Harry Potter cyclus

Saw the trailer of "Harry Potter and the half-blood prince" in IMAX. Reminded me again of actually getting those books and reading them. Especially the few last ones before the films come out. 

The films amuse and entertain, so the books must be even better, right?

Star Trek (IMAX)

Amusing, good popcorn stuff. Yes, lensflare-galore. And they were a bit too keen on over-obviously "introducing" all the main characters.

But considering the history against which they had to write and produce this film, the expectations and, more often, the sharp convictions uttered before anyone had even seen a single frame, I think they did a good job.

Had to laugh when the Enterprise rose above the spacey-dusty clouds with Saturn and its ring as backdrop, but only those who knew my father's studyroom would get the little joke.

Star Trek

expect popcorn-galore at "Star Trek IMAX". Quite a hassle to order online though, got a "technical problem with the payment server". twice.

Nick Cave - "And the ass saw the angel"

Last night I took "Drie op één perron" with me for an aftermatch drink. Good, but it's not a "pure poetry" book that I prefer. I'd like to have poetic proza, not "real" poetry. Not sure why yet, will try to figure that out.

On the way back it hit me: Nick Cave's "And the ass saw the angel" Now I only have to locate the box in which it is residing.

Prodigy - "Mindfields"

Watergraafsmeer! The rollercoaster app in the CAVE. Looped endlessly during the days it was open to the public.

Crazy. Prodigy still works well, also while trying to locate the origin of ntpd segfaulting. Should it be put on p.o.s.?

Prodigy - "Music for the jilted generation"

Rediscovering this album. "Break and enter", "Their Law", and the alltime fav "One Love (edit)"

Good for grinding through openssh code.

Robert A. Heinlein - "Time enough for love"

Found it in one of the many still-packed boxes when searching for Cohen's "Beautiful Losers" since I was heading for the pub. Vagually remember buying it at a secondhand-book market or the like. It's old, pretty thick, and I'm quite curious about it.

Lately read some articles indicating with how much esteem Heinlein is regarded. I knew he is good, I knew he is one of The Great SF Writers, but it seems he actually occupies the upper echelons. Forgot which book of his is supposed to be the ultimate masterpiece.

Leonard Cohen - "I'm your man"

It's the upteenth time I watch it. Can't get enough of it.

Never been a huge fan of Rufus Wainwright, but he's absolutey the right man for "Everybody knows".

I transscribed it before, but will do it again: the preface he wrote for the "loose" Chinese translation of "Beautiful Losers":

"Dear reader,

Thank you for coming to this book. It is an honour and a surprise to have the frenzy thoughts of my youth expressed in Chinese characters. I sincerely appreciate the efforts of the translator and the publishers in bringing this curious work to your attention. I hope you'll find it useful, or amusing.
When I was young, my friends and I read and admired the old Chinese poets. Our ideas of love and friendship, of wine and distance, of poetry itself, were much affected by those ancient songs. So you can understand, dear reader, how privileged I feel to be able to grace, even for a moment and with such meager credentials, on the outskirts of your tradition.
This is a difficult book, even in English, if it is taken too seriously. May I suggest that you skip over the parts that you don't like, dip into it here and there, perhaps there will be a passage or even a page that resonates with your curiosity. After a while, if you are sufficiently bored or unemployed, you may want to read it, cover to cover.
In any case, I thank you for your interest in this odd collection of jazzriffs, popart-jokes, religious kitch and muffled prayer. An interest which indicates to my thinking a rather reckless though very touching generosity on your part.
"Beautiful Losers" was written outside, on a table set among the rocks, weeds and daisies behind my house on Edra, an island in the Aegian Sea. I lived there many years ago, it was a blazing hot summer, I never covered my head. What you have in your hands is more of a sunstroke than a book.
Dear reader, please forgive if I have wasted your time."

Again I am slightly irritated by Bono who is just verbally prancing around, while the Edge is a 100% sincere.

I hated Rufus Wainwright's rendition of "Hallelujah" in "Shrek" (of all places), but with this live-performance I forgive him. Almost. I'm not a saint.

Produced by (among others) Mel Gibson.

Tommy Wieringa - "Joe Speedboot"

It seems I moaned for a long time I still had to read this book and just when I can claim my own library card... I get it as a gift! As of yet, have read about 40%, it isn't overwhelmingly good, but absolutely fun.

Leonard Cohen - "Beautiful Losers"

The book I only allowed myself to read when drinking alone in a pub. Stained beerpads as bookmarks, I copied many quotations to various notebooks. There usually wasn't much light, the little candles helped.

They thought I was funny. The best nights I was interrupted and chatted for long hours with unknown girls who drank, laughed and smiled.

Check the preface he wrote for the Chinese translation.

Danger Mouse ft. Sparklehorse - "Dark night of the soul"

From Wikipedia:

Danger Mouse and Sparklehorse were due to release an album in the summer of 2009 entitled Danger Mouse and Sparklehorse Present: Dark Night of the Soul (together with a 100+ photo book with photographs by David Lynch). Due to an ongoing dispute with EMI the album will not be released commercially. However, the BBC reported that Danger Mouse plans to release a full illustrated jewel case with a blank CD-R included in it. The CD-R will be labeled: For Legal Reasons, enclosed CD-R contains no music. Use it as you will.

Really liked the concept, but the music couldn't interest me.

Babylon Circus (P60)

Encroyable! One big party. Check out their amazing album "La Belle Etoile". Ska at its best; fast, funny musicians, loads of released energy.

Attended it all on my own and had a fabulous evening. Ninaaaaa!